GROWTH HABIT: Perennial
forming low, spreading, fleshly plants, commonly in
clumps but can be erect to 3 feet or more in height,
reproducing from stems or seeds.

LEAVES: Leaves are small
and scale-like on young branches, dropping
early.

STEMS: Stems are flat and
jointed, spines 4/5 to 1-1/5 inches long, pale or
brownish with around 9 per group.

FLOWER:
Flowers are large;
calyx tube does not extend beyond ovary; petals
numerous, 1-1/2 to 2 inches long, slightly united;
stamens numerous in several rows. The fruit is a
pear-shaped berry either juicy or dry, often spiny.

ROOTS:

SEEDS: Seeds are numerous,
2/10 to 3/10 inch long, white and flattened. There are
numerous species of Opuntia in the
West.

OTHER: Pricklypear is a
native plant commonly found on dry, sandy soils. It
can be troublesome on overgrazed pastures and
rangelands. Herbicides effectively control these
species.